High-voltage switch



Sept. 18, 1928. 1,685,067

w. R. HUTTINGER HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH Filed June 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l w. R. HU-TTINGER HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH Sept. 18, 1928. I 1,685,067

Filed June 25, 1924 2 She ets Sheet 2 II III Illlllllllr/ w/l/l/A IIIIIIIIII/ I 71/111 IIIIIIIII,IIIII Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIGH-VOLTAGE swrrcn.

. Application filed June 25, 1924. Serial- No. 722,281.

My invention relates to switches, and it hasparticular relation to high-voltage electric switches.

In its broad aspect, one object of my invention is to provide an electric switch'which is characterized by its ruggedness of construction, yet relatively light weight; by its particular applicability to high tension lines having exceedingly high voltages, say 155,000 volts and over; and by its adaptability to remote control systems.

Another object of my invention is to provide a high-tension switch which is provided with improved means for avoiding accumu- 1 lations of ice, snow or sleet on the engaging surfaces of the contact elements of such switches.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved construction wherein the usual insulator strains incident to the operation of the switch are absorbed in the metallic portion thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an electric switch which is characterized by the provision of relatively movable contact members, one of which is pivotally mounted and provided with a pivoted contact portion movable into and out of engagement with I the other of said contact members.

' A still further object of my invention is to provide a switch of the class described comprising a pair of relatively movable contact members, one of which is provided with a pivoted contact portion cooperating with the other of said contact members, and common actuating means for the pivoted contact portion and the contact member carrying'the Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view of the cooperating contact porsame, the movement of said contact portion being independent of that of the supporting tions and their supporting parts shown in the previous figures, the sectional plane being taken on the line III-III of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modification.

In the illustrated form of embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, a horizontally positioned beam 1, which may be supported on the top of a transmission l1ne tower (not shown), provides a rigid. support for spaced insulator-stacks 2 block 8 ma be provided with a rearwardly extending ange 12 which provides a mountmg for the usual terminal connection 13.

The contact engaging face 7 of the stationary contact element 6 is adapted to engage-a co-acting face 14 of a movable contact portion 15 of a switch blade 16, a mam body portion, 17 of which is mounted to move in a vertical plane on a pivot pin 18 carried by a bracket 19 mounted on the upper end of the insulatorstack 3, as will a pear more fully hereinafter.

The main bo y portion 17 of'the switch blade 16 preferably comprises longitudinal extending members 21 and 22, corresponding ends of which are secured in lugs 23 and 24 perforated to receive the pivot pin 18, whereby the switch blade 16 may be pivotally mounted. The bracket 19 is provided with spaced lugs 25 and 26, which are perforated to receive and support the pivot pin 18, and

which are positioned intermediate the lugs 23 and 24. -The latter ma be further secured in position by means 0 clamping nuts 27 and 28. A terminal connection 29 for the switch blade 16 may be mounted on the supporting bracket 19 and it is connected by means of conductors 31 to the lugs 23 and 24.

The opposite ends of the members 21 and 22 are rigldly secured in tubular portions 32 and 33, respectively, of a connecting member 34. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, which illustrate in detail certain important featuresof my invention, it may be seen that the connecting member 34 terminates in a housing or casing 35. The latter is provided with a pivot pin 36 which is mounted in bearings 37 and 38 formed in the upper portion of the side walls of the housing 35. The pivot pin 36 has rigidly secured thereto the movable contact portion 15 of the switch blade 16, which comprises a substantially horizontal section 39 carr ing the contact engaging face 14 and the substantially vertical section 41 which is keyed to the pivot pin 36. The electrical connection between the movable contact portion 15 and the main body portion 17 may be made more perfect by means of a flexible cable 42 which extends from the vertical section 41 to an adjacent wall of the housing 35.

The lower portion of the housing 35 is removed to provide an opening 43 through which the horizontal contact section 39 may pass as it enters and leaves the protecting housing 35. Fig. 3 illustrates in solid-line the movable contact portion 15 in its extended osition, wherein the coacting contact sur aces 7 and 14 are in engagement, while Fig. 2 shows in dot-and-dash line the retarded -position in which the horizontal portion 39 is in the housing 35.

The switch vblade 16 may be supported in the solid-line position, wherein the pivoted contact portion 15 is in engagement with the stationary contact member 6, by means of flanges 44-44, which extend outwardly from. the lower side portions of the housing 35. The flanges 44-44 engage the upper end portions 45' of screw members 46-46 which are mounted in threaded perforations 48 formed in spaced shoulder rtions 49-49 of the bracket 4. The spacing of the shoulder portions 49-49 is suflicient to permit the horizontal contact section 39 of the pivoted contact portion 15 moving therebetween as it is actuated to and from the protective housing 35. The adjustable screw supports 46-46 may be secured in a desired vertical position by means of lock-nuts 51.

The stationary contact element 6 may be protected from ice and snow by means of a housing 52. The housing 52 may comprise, for example, a hood 52 and the bracket 4. The hood 52 is provided with lugs 53-53 ex-- tending from the opposite sides thereof and perforated to receive clamping screw members 54, the latter being secured in the spaced horizontal shoulder portions 49-49 of the main bracket 4. A side portion 55 of the hood 52 adjacent to the housing35 is provided with an opening 56 so as to permit the insertion and removal of the horizontal section 39 of the pivoted contact portion 15 to and from the protecting hood 52. v

The above noted movable switch parts may be actuated by a third insulator-stack 57 which may bemounted intermediate the insulator-stacks 2 and 3 for rotation about a vertical axis substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said movable switch parts. A lower end of the insulator-stack 57 may be mounted on an anti-friction thrust bearing 58 carried by the supporting structure 1, and it is provided with a toothed end portion 59 adapted to mesh with a beveled gear wheel 61 mounted on a shaft 62 driven by a motor (not shown). The upper end of the insulator-stack 57 may be provided with a vertically extending shaft portion 63 which is journaled in an antifriction bearing 64 carried by arms 65 and66 forming integral extensions of the bracket 19.

It is desirable that the actuating insulator-' .time reach a dangerous value with the ordinary accumulatlons of ice or snow present. I

To this end, the insulator-stack 57 is operatively associated with the main body portion 17 and the pivoted contact portion 15 of the switch blade 16 by designed that sald switch parts will move only a small amount in response to a relatively large movement of the actuating insulator-stack 57. That is to say, mechanism 67 is so designed that the mechanical advantage of the actuating insulator-stack 57 is very large. As a matter of illustration, the mechanism 67 may be shown as a special form of screw gearing.

This so-called screw jack connection 67 between the insulator-stack 57 and the movmechanism 67 which is so able switch parts 15 and 17 involves the use p of a worm 68, which is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 63, and a worm wheel 69, which has been shown as a quadrant pivotally mounted on the portion of the pivot pin 18 intermediate the bracket lugs 25 and 26. The quadrant 69 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 71, the end of which is operatively associated by means of a link 72 with the free end of an-operating arm 7 3.

The arm 73 is keyed to an extension portion,

quently the pivoted contact portion 15, may be moved a predetermined distance prior to the actuation of the switch blade 16 as a whole through the engagement of one or the other of said pair of arms 77 and 78 therewith.

As shown in the drawing the worm 41 has a relatively flat pitch, so that the worm" 41 and wheel 39 may be non-reversing under the action of the switch blade 9. This non-reversing or non-overhauling characteristic is particularly important since the switch blade 9 is locked in any desired elevated position regardless of whether or not power is applied to the actuating insulator-stack 30.

When the high-tension switch embodying my invention is in the closed position shown in solid-line in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the pivoted contact portion 15 is in engagement with the stationary contact element 6, and the pairs of arms 77 and 78 are spaced equally from opposite sides of the members 21 and 22 of the main body portion 17. If the insulator-sack 57 is now turned, the quadrant 69 and the lever arm 71 are moved, causing the pivoted contact portion 15 to move out of engagement,

oted contact portion 15. Such movement may be continued until the switch blade 16 has been actuated a desired distance from the stationary contact element 6, one such position being shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to close the high-tension switch embodying my invention, the direction of rotation of the insulator stack 57 is reversed, whereupon the movable switch blade 16 by reason of its weight follows the downwardly moving supporting arms 77. However, should there be a tendency for the switch blade 16 to remain in its raised position, the upper arms 78 engage the top side of the main body portion 17 and forcibly actuate the same downwardly. Experience has shown that once the switch blade 16 has started to move downwardly, the weight thereof is suflicient to cause the same to follow the downwardly moving supporting arms 77.

The lowering of the switch blade 16 is continued until the shoulders 4444 of the housing 35 engage the adjustable supporting screw members 46-46. The housing 35 is thus supported on the housing 52. The continued movement of the quadrant 69 causes the supporting arms 77 to be actuated out of engagement with the main body portion 17, and it also causes a forward movement of the lever 71, whereby the section 39 of the pivoted contact portion 15 may be moved out of the protective housing 35 and into engage- When the switch is to be again opened, the

foregoing procedure is repeated.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 differentiates over that of the preceding figures in the design of the switch'contact portions. In the present instance, the laminated stationary contact element 6 of the preceding figures is replaced by a stationary contact element 79 which comprises a bifurcated portion provided with spring contact blades 8181 of usual design. A further modification is in the mounting of a blade contact 82 on the end of the horizontal section 39 of the pivoted contact portion 15, so that the rocking movement of the latter causes the blade portion 82 I to be inserted between and removed from the sorbed in the supporting bracket 4 and parts immediately associated therewith. This desired result is brought about by providing a switch design as set forth hereinabove, wherein the strains, which are introduced in the bracket 4 by the engagement of the pivoted contact portion 15 and the stationary contact element 6, are canceled by the opposite strains which are introduced in the bracket 4 through the supporting of the outer end of'the main body portion 17 of the switch blade 16 on the "screw members 4646, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Referdo not intend that the language employed in means for successively actuating said pivotally mounted contact portion out of'engagement with said stationary switch element and thereafter moving said movable switch element as a whole.

2. An electric switch comprising a pair of. stationary insulators disposed in spaced relation, stationary and movable contact elements respectively carried by said insulators, said movable contact element terminating in a housing and provided with a contact portion movable relative to said housing, said contact portion being adapted to co-act with said stationary contact element, an actuating insulator, and means including self-locking gearing for operatively associating said actuating insulator and said movable contact element and ivoted contact portion.

3. In an e ectric switch, a movable contact element, a housing supported by said movable contact element and constituting a part thereof, and a contact portion pivotally mounted in said housing and movable from said housing into an efiective position.

4. A switch including a movable contact element, a contact portion pivotally mounted thereon and provided with an operating arm, and common actuating means for said operating arm and said movable contact element, permitting relative movement therebetween.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with a stationary contact element, of a supporting bracket therefor provided with spaced supporting points, and a movable contact element comprising a main body portion and a relatively movable contact portion, said contact portion coacting with said stationary contact element, said main body portion being adapted to rest on said supporting points.

6. A stationary contact element, a supporting bracket therefor provided with spaced supporting points adj ustably mounted therein, a movable contact member comprising a main body portion and a relatively movable contact portion, said contact portion being adapted to co-act with said stationary contact element, said main body portion being adapted to engage said supporting points.

7. In combination, a stationary contact element, a supporting bracket therefor, and a movable contact member provided with a housing adapted to engage said supporting bracket, said contact member having a relatively movable contact portion supported in said housing and mova 1e into engagement with said stationary contact element.

8. A stationary contact element, a supporting bracket therefor, a pivoted contact member provided with a housing on thefree end thereof adapted to rest on said supporting bracket, a contact portion pivotally mounted in said housing and movable therefrom into engagement with said stationary contact element, and means for actuating'said mov-- able contact portion into said-housing and thereafter actuating said pivoted contact member out of engagement with said supporting bracket.

9. A pivoted contact member terminating in a housing, a contact portion pivotally mounted therein and provided with an operating arm, a second arm operatively associated with said first-mentioned arm, and means for actuating said arms and said movable contact member according to a predetermined sequence.

10. A pivotally mounted contact member terminating in a housing, a contact portion pivotally mounted therein and provided with an operatin arm external to said housing, and means or actuating said arm independently of said movable contact member to move said contact portion into and out of said housing.

11. In an electric switch, the combination with a stationary contact element, a supporting bracket therefor, and means for enclosing said stationary contact element, of a cooperating movable contactmemberprovided with a housing, a relativelymovable contact portion positioned in said housing but movable therefrom into engagement with said stationary contact element, said bracket providing spaced supporting points for said housing, and common actuating means for said movable contact member and said contact portion.

12. In combination, relatively movable switch members, of which one is provided with a movable contact portion, housings for one of said-switch members and said movable contact portion, respectively, one of saidhousings constituting a support for the other, and actuating means for at least one of said switch members. including worm-and-wheel mechanism.

13. In combination, relatively movable contact members, of which one is provided with a pivoted portion, and actuating means for at least one of said contact members including worm-and-wheel mechanism, saidmeans having a lost-motion connection to said last-mentioned member.

14. A switch comprising relatively movable contact members, of which one is provided with a pivoted portion, and screw-jack means for actuating at least one of said contact members, said means having 'a lost-motion connection to said last-mentioned member permitting a predetermined relative movement between the latter member and said pivoted contact portion.

15. In combination, relatively movable contact members, of which one is provided with a housing and a pivoted portion movable in said housing, and actuating means for at least one of said contact members includ- 16. In combination, relatively movable contact members, of which one is provided with a housing and a pivoted portion movable in said housin and actuating means including screw-jac mechanism for relatively and bodily moving said last-mentioned member and pivoted portion.

17. In combination, relatively movable contact members, of which one is provided with a pivoted portion, and screw-jack means for actuating at least one of said contact members, said means having a lost-motion connection to said last-mentioned member, the latter member being provided with a housing for said pivoted portion.

18. A switch comprising a pair of stationary insulators, contact elements respectively supported on said insulators, one of said contact elements being movable and provided with a pivoted contact portion, an actuating insulator, and means including worm-andwheel mechanism for operatively associating said actuating insulator and said movable contact element.

19. A switch comprising a pair of supporting insulators, contacts respectively carried by said insulators, one of said contacts being movable and provided with a protective hous ing, an actuating insulator, and means for establishing a screw-jack connection between said actuating insulator and said movable contact element.

20. A switch comprising a pair of insulators, contact elements respectively mounted thereon, one of said contact elements being movable and provided with a housing and a contact portion movable in said housing, an actuating insulator and means including worm-and-wheel mechanism for operatively associating said actuating insulator and said movable contact element and contact portion.

21. A switch comprising a pair of insulators, contact elements respectively mounted thereon, at least one-of said contact elements being movable and provided with a housing and pivoted contact portion, an actuating insulator rotatable about itsaxis, and means including the worm-and-wheel mechanism for operatively associating saidfactuating in-' sulator and said movable contact element and pivoted contact portion, said means also: includmg a lost-motlon connection.

22. In combination, relatively movable WILLIAM R. HUTTINGER. 

